Two-purpose highway guardrail



May 21, 1940 A. P. HAYDEN ET AL TWO-PURPOSE HIGHWAY GUARDRAIL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec 10, 1936 Patented May 21, 1940 UN'ITED STATES TWO-PURPOSE HIGHWAY GUARDRAIL Albert 1. Hayden and George A. Gleason, Worcester, Mass., assignors to The American Steel and Wire Company of New Jersey, a corporation of New Jersey Application December 10, 1936, Serial No. 115,228 I Claims. (Cl. 256-131) This invention relates to highway guardrails, and, more particularly, to such devices having means for deflecting or stopping heavy vehicles, such as, busses, trucks, and the like, as well as the lighter classes of passenger vehicles.

The-highway guards in general use today are generally adapted to prevent automobiles, and other light vehicles, from leaving the highway, but they are of little effect in stopping heavy vehicles, such as, busses or trucks, when the latter collide therewith, Due to he vast amount of kinetic energy that the heavier vehicles develop in running at any speed, the ordinary guardrail is insufficient to stop or deflect them.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a. guardrail that will combine the sufficient strength and construction necessary for stopping heavy vehicles, with the construction and resilience desired for the deflection of the average light passenger vehicle.

It is another object to provide a guardrail of the class described, wherein none of the desirable features of the present-day type ofguardrails will be sacrificed, while, at the same time, greatly increasing the strength of the guardrail over the latter. 4 i

With the above objects in view, and others ancillary thereto, the invention will be more readily understood by reference to the following specification when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

. Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the construction shown in Figure 1.

' Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line I1I-III in Figure 2.

Figures 4, 5, and 6 are front and side elevational and end views, respectively, showing in detail one of the elements employed in the construction of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 8 is a front elevational view of the device shown in Figure 7. I

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX in Figure 8.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout:

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures lthrough 3, is comprised of a plurality of supports, or posts, I, having flatted portions 2 disposed to' face the highway. Secured against each of these flatted pof'ti'o'ns is a clamp, or retainer block, 3, that is shown in detail in Figures 4, 5 and 6. Each of these clamps, or retainer blocks, is provided with a plurality of cablereceiving apertures 4 that extend transversely thereof for disposition against the flatted portions 2 of the 'posts I. The clamps, or retainer blocks, are provided with bolt holes 5, the upper- I most of which is provided with a squared countersunk portion 6, for reasons to hereinafter.

A plurality of heavy cables I is disposed across the posts adjacent the flatted portions 2 thereon, and is secured to each post by means of the clamps, or retainer blocks, 3. The cables I lie, respectively, within each of the receiving apertures 4, and are then clamped to the flatted portions of the posts by means of bolts 8, 9 and III, which are disposed through the bolt holes 5 in the retainer block, and through the posts to the oppositelside thereof. The uppermost bolt 8 is pro vided with a squaredhead that is adapted to seat within the squared countersunk portion 6 of the adjacent bolt hole 5, and its threaded end is extended to the rear of the post where it is provided with a suitable nut l l for tightening the clamp, or retainer block, 3 against the post.

The cables I are anchored at their opposite ends to suitable posts I2 that are preferably set in concrete base I 3, and braced by means of a diagonal rod I4 extending away'therefrom, substantially in the plane of the guardrail to a point of anchorage a substantial distance below the ground, as is represented at I5. The brace rod I4 may be broken intermediate its ends and probecome apparent.

vided with a turnbuckle I6, or any other suitable device, for increasing or decreasing the tension to which it is subjected. The cables 'I are secured to the post I2 by means of bolts I1, having cableengaging sockets I8 at one of their ends, and a nut '20 at the opposite ends on the outside of post I2, whereby the tension on cables I may be varied.

Carried upon the outer face of each of the clamps, or retainer blocks, 3, is a resilient cable spring bracket I9, of a type similar to that disclosed in a co-pending' application for United States patent, of Carl C. Ahles, Serial No. 30,374, filed July 8, 1935. These resilient brackets are formed of a sheet of resilient plate metal arrangedto dispose its opposite ends in overlapping relation, and with the outer overlapping portion being provided with a plurality of cable-receiving slots 20. The rear side of each of these brackets is of a shape as will conform to the outer face of the retainer blocks 3, and in which are disposed APR 7 1942 bolt-receiving openings to overlie the lowermost bolt-receiving openings in each of the retainer blocks 3. The brackets ii! are secured against the retainer blocks and are thereby held to the posts by means of the bolts 9 and II), which are disposed through the lower bolt openings 5 in the retainer blocks, and through the registering openings in the brackets l9 provided to receive the same. Nuts 2| are disposed on the threaded end of the bolts 3 and I0, which extend inwardly of the brackets, and by means of which the retainer blocks, brackets, and posts are secured rigidly together.

Disposed to extend across all of the brackets I3 is a plurality of cables 22, each of which is arranged to lie, respectively, within each of the slots in the brackets, wherein. they are secured by means of a wedge or pin member 23. The cables 22 are likewise secured at their free ends to the posts l2 by an arrangement similar to that already described in connection with the cables I. Arranged in the same manner as the stantially within or parallel to the general plane of the highway guard assembly. The bolts for the cables I are preferably disposed through holes placed in axial alignment upon each of the flanges at one side of the web. The bolts for the cables 22 are preferably disposed upon the opposite sideof the'web in holes similarly provided therefor. This arrangement permits the nuts 20 and 25, that are employedfor securing the bolts l1 and 24, respectively, to the posts l2, to be disposed on the side of the posts l2 remote from the guard rail proper so that the entire tensional strains inherent in the latter, and others which arise from'vehicular impact, are afforded the resistance of the entire cross sectional strength of the posts i2. To augment the resisting strength of'the post, a brace i4, disposed as has already been described, is introduced through the web portion thereof, intermediate c'able bolts l1 and 24. The inner end of the brace is threaded and provided with .a heavy nut 21, which bears upon the face of the post l2 adjacent the guardrail proper and prevents withdrawal of the brace 14. Since the supporting posts are frequently mounted along the upper edge of, embankments without much earth in back of them to support them, it is desirable to provide additional means for strengthening the resistance of the posts against dislodgment from the earth. In accordance with the present invention this means may take the form of an anchor rod 23 extendingdiagonally through the post from a point at its rear adjacent the groundlevel, to a point of anchorage'23 considerably below and adjacent to the highway, substantially as. is shown in Figure 3. The exposed 'end of the, anchor rod 23 preferably rear of the post by a bearing member 33 which is provided with one face'perpendicular to the axis of the spring 32 and another face canted to coincide with the post as the angularity of the rod requires. By adjusting the nut 3| the spring 32 is placed under more or less tension, whereby a greater or less degree of resistance to dislodgment isafiorded the post I. Also, the springs 32 will permit-the posts to yieldingly resist severe impacts of a magnitude suflicient to partially dislodge the latter, and thus overcome the objections of an absolutely immovable barrier, which, by virtue of its immobility; can cause considerable damage to a vehicle colliding therewith.

. A road guard constructed in accordance with the above description will be provided with two barriers: that comprised of the cables I and that comprised'of the cables 22. It will be appreciated that the cables 22, being spaced resiliently I from theposts, are adapted to function in the ,usual manner for deflecting vehicles of the lighter classes. To this end, thecables 22, and the brackets iii are disposed at the height customarily adopted for engaging automobiles substantially at the level of the hubs of their wheels.

However, in the case of busses, trucks, etc., the

centers of gravity are considerably higher than in the smaller, lighter vehicles, necessitating that I the cables I, in order to be effective in stopping a colliding bus or truck, be placed considerably higher than the cables 22 If wooden posts are employed, it is contemplated that they should be at least 12 inches in diameter and set deep in the ground, whereby adequate support is afforded the deflecting cables 22 and I, and, more particularly, the latter.

The embodiment shown in Figures 7,8 and 9, is substantially the sanie as that described above except that the two sets of cables, identified as 'I' and 22', are placed in substantial horizontal alignment. Also, in lieu of the wooden posts i, metal posts 34, of a construction similar to that of the end posts l2, described above, are employed; End posts l2 are similar to thosealready described in that the arrangement of the cable securing bolts l1 and 24', respectively, are positioned through the flanges extending to each side of the center web of posts l2. Cable sockets l8 and 26. are likewise provided for securing the cables to the end posts. The main difference is the provision of turnbuckle unions 35 intermediate the cable sockets and the end posts [2' for varying the tension in the cables 1' and 22'. A brace I4 is provided for the post I? in a manner similar to that already described. The brackets [9, for attaching the cables 22 to' the posts, are, in the embodiment shown in Figures 7,8 and 9, coextensive with the retainer blocks 3'. Referring more specifically to Figure 9, it will be seen that the retainer blocks 3' are held to the posts 34 independently of the brackets l9 by means of bolts 36 extending through the posts and secured thereto by nuts 31. The brackets I! are retained on the front faces of the retainer blocks 3' by means of bolts 36' passing through the posts and retainer blocks. The bolts 36' are disposed to introduce their threaded portions within the brackets 19, whereon nuts 33 are screwed so as to secure the bracket, retainer d 8,801,818 numerals apply in like manner as to the construction of Figure 3.

It will be understood that, whereas, certain types of fence posts have been specified herein, the invention is by no means limited thereto. In lieu of the I-beam construction specified. a built-up channel construction could as well be employed. This would eliminate the necessity of boring through the I-beam web to accommodate the brace rods ll-il' in the case of the end posts |2--l2, since the channel elements in a builteup channel post could be spaced the requisite amount to accommodate the .brace .rod.

' Wooden posts oi. stout construction could be except insofar as is consistent with the recita-' tlons oi! the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a highway guard, a post, a retainer'block having barrier receiving recesses secured to said post, a spring bracket seated upon a face of said retainer block remote from said post, and means on said bracket for securing a barrier in spaced relation to said post.

2.- In a highway guard, a post, a retainer block having cable receiving recesses secured to said post, a spring bracket set upon a face of said retainer block remote from said post, and means on said bracket for securing a barrier in spaced relation to said post.

3. In a highway guard, a post, a clamp having means for securing a cable to said post, a spring bracket seated upon a portion or said clamp,-and means on said bracket for securing a cable in spaced relation to said post.

4. In a highway guard, a post, a retainer block having barrier receiving recesses carried by said post, a spring bracket seated upon a portion of said retainer block remote from said post, and fastening devices passing through said retainer block, bracket and post to secure them rigidly together. i

5. A road guard including spaced posts inserted in the ground, a guardrail mounted by said posts through relatively inelastic elements and means for elastically restraining displacement of said posts independently of their restraint by reason'oi' their' insertion in the ground, said road brackets.

ALBERT P. HAYDEN. GEORGE A. GLEABON. 

